Why RES Matters

National RES means creating hundreds of thousands of new American jobs

  • Union of Concerned Scientists study shows a strong RES can create close to 300,000.
  • 37 other countries, including China, already have firm renewable electricity commitments in place – the U.S. is competing with those countries to attract investment in manufacturing facilities; countries with long-term, stable policies will win.

Vast majority of the American public supports a strong national RES

  • Garin Hart Yang Research Group poll shows 75% of Americans support a 25% by 2025 RES.
  • Washington Post/ABC poll shows 84% of Americans support a national RES.

National RES is the most immediate and direct way to reduce carbon emissions

  • Energy Information Administration study shows a 25% by 2025 national RES reduces power sector CO2 emissions by 56 million tons, roughly 4.7% below 2005 levels.
  • BTM Consult study shows Europe’s currently installed wind power capacity already reduced its electric sector CO2 emissions by 7.4% in 2008. Within the next 10 years, global wind power could avoid the emission of 1.7 gigatons of CO2 per year, which would then equal 11 % of the world’s emissions from electricity generation.

25% RES by 2025 – Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Analysis March 2009
Download Analysis (PDF)

Key Findings:

A national 25% renewable electricity by 2025 standard would...

  • Increase renewable generation from 28,000 megawatts (MW) to 248,000 MW
  • Create 297,000 jobs
  • Additionally create 44,500 long-term manufacturing jobs
  • Generate $13.5 billion in new income for farmers, ranchers and rural landowners who use their land for renewable energy
  • Generate $11.5 billion in new property tax revenue for local communities
  • Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 277 million tons or 10.6% below business as usual
  • Emission reductions would generate $19.4 billion in cumulative savings
  • Reduce natural gas prices by as much as 4.1%, with an average annual reduction of 2.3% through 2030
  • Lower consumer electricity prices 7.6% on average, with an average annual reduction of 4.3% through 2030

National Polling

Vast majority of the American public supports a national RES:

  • Washington Post/ABC poll shows 84% of Americans support a national RES
  • Garin Hart Yang Research Group poll shows 75% of Americans support a 25% by 2025 RES
  • 53% majority strongly favors a national RES, dwarfing the total of those who oppose (“strongly” and “somewhat”) (16%)
  • RES draws bipartisan support: 86% of Democrats favor the RES proposal, as do 71% of Independents and 62% of Republicans.
  • Instituting a national RES garners overwhelming support across the country, ranging from 84% positive in the Northeast, 75% support in the Midwest and West, and 71% support in the South.